Hardware article



J 94 -G. v. JAKEWAY HARDWARE ARTICLE 7 Filed Oct. 2, 1944 W&

INVENTOR. Gem/0 V. C/UA'ZIUG7 A T T ORA/E Y)? Patented June 18, 1946HARDWARE ARTICLE Gerald V. J akeway, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor toKeeler Brass Company, Grand Rapids,

Mich.

Application October 2, 1944, Serial No. 556,777

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements innardware article.

The present invention is an adaptation of and in some respects animprovement upon my invention disclosed and claimed in my patent issuedFebruary 22, 1944, No. 2,342,402.

The main objects of the present invention are:

First, to provide a hardware article, such as a handle, drawer pull orthe like, which, while of considerable lateral dimension, is relativelylight in weight and may be formed of a relatively small amount ofmaterial.

Second, to provide an article of this character which has no exposedmetal parts and may be economically produced.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of the invention will appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.A structure which embodies the features of the invention is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a door handle embodying myinvention, the spindle being partially broken away.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional View illustrating steps in themanufacture of the handle shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section corresponding to Fig. 3 with the diemembers closed.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view illustrating a modified form or embodimentof the invention and steps in manufacture.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of still another form or embodiment ofthe invention.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, thenumeral I represents the shell or spindle of an automobile door handleand 2 the handle. This handle comprises a metal handle bar or core 3which is secured to the spindle I, the core being longitudinally curvedor shaped to the handle and having inwardly facing spaced flanges 4forming an inwardly facing longitudinal groove 5. This core member is ofrectangular section and is formed of bar stock, although it might befabricated into a U cross section from sheet stock, a illustrated in mysaid patent.

The casing 6 is formed by molding thermoplastic material into properlongitudinal curve and of a cross section as shown in Fig. 3, thelongitudinal curvature corresponding to that of the core or handle bar3. The casing is formed with outer and inner pairs of flanges 1 and 8,

the flanges 8 being spaced to closely embrace the core or handle bar 3.The edges of the inner flanges 8 are folded around the inner edges ofthe flanges 4 of the core member, the extreme edges 9 being disposedbetween the flanges 4 or in the groove provided thereby (see Figs. 2 and4). As molded the inner flanges 8 are of substantially greater widththan the outer flanges 1 so that they may be heated sufiiciently toplasticize them and to permit their being wrapped or folded around theflanges 4 and into the space between them. This is preferablyaccomplished by means of the die members l0 and l I, the die member l Ibeing provided with a heating unit [2.

The channel-like seat l3 of the die member Ill is suitably shaped toreceive the casing in supporting relation to the flanges l. The diemember II is provided with longitudinal flanges 15 spaced to receive theprojecting edges of the flanges 8 and with a central directing rib l6for directing the edges of the flanges 8 inwardly into the space orchannel between the flanges 4 of the core member. The flange l5 areshaped on their outer sides at IT to supportingly engage the edges ofthe outer flanges when the dies are fully closed (see Fig. 4). However,only the portions of the flanges 8 which are to be conformed or turnedinwardly are heated, so the remainder of the casing is in no wisedistorted. The inner edges of the flanges I are substantially flush withthe inturned surfaces l8 of the inner flanges so that the inner parts ofthe handle are in substantially the same transverse plane.

My present invention enables the production of various forms of hardwareof substantial transverse width with a relatively small amount ofmaterial, thereby minimizing cost and also enabling the production ofhardware having a massive appearance with a minimum of material, at thesame time producing a structure which is strong and rigid.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 5 the inner flanges 28closely embrace the core member 3 and their edges are substantiallyflush with the edges of the core member flanges. The outer pair offlanges 2| are of a width indicated at 22 by dotted lines, theseportions 22 being folded around the edges of the inner flanges 20 and inturned at 23 between the flanges 4. In the production of this structurethe die member 25 is provided with a pair of heating coils 26 positionedto heat the surfaces 2 with which the extended portions 22 of theflanges 2i engage, the surfaces being shaped to turn the flange portions22 inwardly and the central rib 28 directing them into position betweenthe flanges 4 of the core member. The die members illustrated may beactuated by the method described in my pending application Serial No.426,309, filed Jan. 10, 1942.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 6 the casing 29 isdesigned to embracingly receive the core member 3 and is provided withrelatively thickened side walls 8| having inwardly facing channels 82 intheir inner edges providing flanges 63 around which the side walls H areextended, the edges of the side walls disposed in the longitudinalgrooves or channels. This structure is desirable for use in handles orthe like of substantially greater width than the average handle andwhere a massive appearance is desired. The side walls 8| of the casingmember 29 are upwardly curved at 12 to provide bead-like portionsextending longitudinally of the handle. The inturned portions I81 of theside walls are preferably substantially flush with the inturned portions18 of the side walls 8|.

I have not illustrated the die for forming the handle in Fig. 6, as itis believed the structure will be understood from the disclosures ofFigs. 3, 4 and 5. The structure is formed on heated dies, the heatingelements being disposed so that the flange portions of the casingelement are rendered sufliciently plastic to permit bending and turningtheir edges into the longitudinal channels and 82, as shown in Fig. 6.

I have illustrated and described the invention in practical embodimentsthereof. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe modificationsand adaptations to other types of hardware, such as drawer pulls, remotecontrols, or the like, as it is believed this disclosure will enablethose skilled in the art to embody or adapt the invention as may bedesired.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a hardware article, the combination of a core member having spacedinwardly facing flanges, and a hollow casing member having laterallyspaced inner and outer pairs of longitudinal flanges, the inner pairbeing spaced to receive the core member and closely embracing the sidesthereof and being of greater width than the outer flanges and beingextended around and their edges disposed between the flanges of the coremember, the edges of the outer flanges being substantially flush withthe infolded inner flanges and constituting side walls of the article.

2. In a hardware article, the combination of a core member having spacedinwardly facing flanges, and a hollow casing member having laterallyspaced inner and outer pairs of longitudinal flanges, the inner pairbeing spaced to receive the core member and closely embracing the sidesthereof, one of said pairs of flanges being of greater width than theother and being extended around the inner edges of the core memberflanges and their edges disposed between the flanges of the core member.

3. In a hardware article, the combination of a core member havinginwardly projecting spaced flanges, and a casing member having laterallyspaced pairs of inner and outer flanges, the inner flanges being spacedto embracingly receive the core member, one pair of flanges beingextended around the core member flanges and the edges thereof disposedbetween said core member flanges.

4. In a hardware article, the combination of a core member havinginwardly projecting spaced flanges, and a casing member having laterallyspaced pairs of inner and outer flanges, the inner flanges being spacedto receive and closely embrace the sides of the core member, their inneredges being substantially flush with the inner edges of the core member,the outer flanges being extended around the inner edges of the innerflanges and the flanges of said core member and the edges thereofdisposed between said core member flanges.

5. In a hardware article, the combination of a core member havinginwardly projecting spaced flanges, and a casing member having laterallyspaced pair of inner and outer flanges, the inner flanges being spacedto receive and closely embrace the sides of the core member, the outerflanges being extended around the inner edges of the inner flanges andthe flanges of said core member and the edges thereof disposed betweensaid core member flanges.

6. In a hardware article, the combination of a core member havinginwardly projecting spaced flanges, and a casing member having laterallyspaced pairs of inner and outer walls, the inner walls being spaced toreceive and closely embrace the sides of the core member and havinglongitudinal grooves in their inner edges and having portions extendingbeyond said grooves extended around the inner edges of the core flangesand disposed between the core member flanges, the outer walls of saidcasing member being extended around the inner edges of the outer flangesof said grooves in said inner walls with their edges disposed in saidgrooves.

GERALD V. JAKEWAY.

